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EDITORIALS
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SCORE CARD
Destination
Countries in Africa
by
Jerry W. Bird
  This
page features two categories; the first being
African destinations our editors, writers and
members have visited recently. The second list will
be items from material sent to us by convention and
Visitors Bureaus, Airlines and National Tour
Offices. Many of t hem will be on this World Scene
site, while others will be in the more than 1,200
pages developed for our magazine's comprehensive
site. The communities below are just a sample. Many
more profiles will follow:
The
Zambia Success Story
What
an amazing country! The
ATA 28th International Congress was a Double Header
- or what American humorist Al Capp would have
called a "Double Whammy" in terms of excitement,
anticipation, enthusiasm, networking opportunities
and the magic of serendipity! Zambia's outstanding
success as a host country has laid a firm
foundation for future marketing achievements across
North America and beyond. Both Lusaka and
Livingstone lived up to their advance billing as
host cities by way of hospitality, attractions,
location and guest facilities. The Zambia National
Tourist Office operated as true professionals, from
their pre event tour of the USA, to the day we said
good-bye at Lusaka International
Airport.
Mighty
Mosi-O-Tunya, " the smoke that thunders," was an
awesome sight, and our travels on the Zambezi river
beyond Victoria Falls by canoe safari, motor
launch, car ferries and the African Queen, left an
impression we will remember vividly and talk about
for years. Our ATA delegates experienced two great
destinations in one country, many enjoying post
congress tours and safaris. One factor that stood
out in my mind immediately, was the wide selection
of quality operators, representing wilderness
camps, lodges and game reserves throughout the
land, once known as Northern Rhodesia. Thanks to
the Zambia National Tourism Office, we had the
opportunity of visiting several camps and game
lodges, with such musical names as Chaminuka,
Protea, Mfuwe, Kanyemba and Chiawa.
Continued
From
the Paris of Africa to its Roman Basilica
Having
heard our Associate Editor Muguette Goufrani sing
the praises of her life and times in Cote d'Ivoire
and other West African countries, I was full of
anticipation as we boarded the Air Afrique jet at
the Cotonou, Benin Airport, bound for the legendary
Ivory Coast. As serendipity plays a big part in
many of my African journeys, the first Ivorian we
chanced to meet en route was a Mr. Gakpo, "The
Lobster Man of Abidjan" (a possible song title),
who kindly invited us to stay at his seaside inn
the following week.
That
opportunity was a special treat for several
reasons, one being that the Inter Continental Hotel
Ivoire was full to the rafters and rooftops, due to
an Africa-wide financial summit. I'll never forget
Mr. Gakpo's stadium sized outdoor dining area, open
to the moist Atlantic breezes, and topped by a
traditional West African thatched roof. While
wining, dining and cracking red lobster shells, one
can watch the ever-present fishing boats bobbing up
and down in the waves, in search of fresh seafood
for tomorrow's table.
What's more, the place never seems to close -
allowing us to visit well into the wee hours. Thus,
Abidjan's "Lobster Villa" became our staging point
for one of the most event-filled weeks in my
lifetime. At the time there was a major renovation
and expansion of Mr. Gakpo's Beach Hotel in
progress. For reservations
and
information phone (011) 225-27-40-86, fax
225-211-08. Continued
Gabon: A West
Central African Profile
by
Muguette Goufrani
As
part of my decade living on Africa's West Coast,
our family spent a memorable year in the Republic
of Gabon, which hugs the Atlantic, straddles the
equator and is roughly the size of France. Being
health fanatics and outdoor types, my mother
Suzanne, brother Jean Pierre and I thrived in the
hot, humid climate - and in 12 months, managed to
visit much of the countryside. This gave us an
intimate connection with the Gabonaise culture and
was valuable in my future career in tourism. We
enjoyed a laid back, tropical lifestyle; food was
delicious and varied, the shops and stalls were
full of interesting items and tempting snacks.
What's more, to our delight, the traditional West
African culture had in no way disappeared with the
oil boom."
Thanks
to mineral wealth and a relatively low population
growth, Gabon is better off financially than most
of Africa. This fact is reflected in their care and
attention to basic ecological concerns. For
example, the vast coastal wetlands and marshes, are
still largely intact. This is something with which
ATA members will heartily agree, the Association
being a strong advocate of ecotourism. Gabon, which
hosted the Africa Travel Association (ATA)
International Congress in 1980, is easily
accessible from the USA and Canada.
Continued
African
Countries
already featured on this site
Benin
Cameroon
Cote
d'Ivoire Gabon
Ethiopia
Guinea
Kenya
Mali
Morocco
South
Africa
Tanzania
Zanzibar
More
city and country pages are available on our
Africa
Travel Magazine
site: http://www.africa-ata.org
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